Modelers' Guide to the Hercules Part 1 eBook Review

Review

Aero Research has released the fifth title in their Modelers' Guide series, this time looking at the venerable Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In this Part 1, the title examines the early Hercs from the initial Roman-nosed YC-130 to the a number of variants based upon the C-130E. The detail differences between a baseline model like the C-130E and the various versions and subversions derived it, are all covered from a modeler's point of view to capture those essential details in your next Hercules project..

Like the first title on the A-1 Skyraider, Jay Sherlock has taken this into a better direction for the modeler. First, all the pages are in color. Second, he is focused on the model more than the history and operation of the aircraft. In the two examples below, each of the airframe, antenna, and other visible differences are identified and then followed up with a listing of those details which were added or removed over time.

To give you an idea about how thorough the coverage of this title is for the modeler, look at the list of subjects and each one has the diagram, list of kits available in each scale, and the differences/details to be observed:

Kit Reviews

Aircraft Models - Changes and Options

C-130 Code Names

Hercules Variants:

YC-130

C-130A

C-130A-II

AC-130A

DC-130A

JC-130A

RC-130A

TC-130A

WC-130A

C-130B

C-130B-II

HC-130B

JC-130B

KC-130B

NC-130B

VC-130B

WC-130B

C-130D

C-130E

C-130E-I

C-130E-II

C-130E Pacer Coin

C-130E Senior Scout

AC-130E

DC-130E

EC-130E ABCCC

EC-130E Comfy Levi

EC-130E Rivet Rider

EC-130E USCG

Appendices

Serial Number List

Operating Units

Museum and Display Aircraft

References

The title is illustrated with photos and scrap drawings showing the appearance and details of each of the covered subjects. It will be interesting to see how far the next installment will get in its coverage given the number of special mission aircraft that followed based upon the C-130H and a few C-130Es not in this list, not counting the C-130J family, the US Navy/Marine Corps Hercs, the RAF Hercs, etc.

If you're interested in the details behind many of these USAF variants as well as those coming in Part 2, I'd also recommend getting a copy of The History of Big Safari which provides nice coverage of the history and modifications to a variety of aircraft including the C-130 and C-135 for various missions.

If you've got aspirations to build a C-130 that isn't a vanilla airlifter, this title and its follow-on part(s) will give you a step-by-step guide to help you achieve an accurate representation of that one version of this widely adaptable 60-year-old aircraft.

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